Slide rail assembly for rack system

ABSTRACT

A slide rail assembly for a rack system is configured to mount a chassis to a rack. A fixing member is arranged on one side of the chassis. The slide rail assembly comprises a guide rail having a first rail section, a second rail section and a third rail section. The first rail section is configured to support a portion of the chassis. A path is defined between the second rail section and the third rail section for allowing the fixing member on the chassis to pass through.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly for a racksystem, and more particularly, to a slide rail assembly capable ofquickly mounting chassis with different specifications and firmlysupporting the chassis.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,456 B1 of Jensen et al. discloses a rack having twoposts. A rail is attached to each post. Each of the rails includes tworibs that together define a slot. One end of the slot has a greaterseparation between the ribs. Two sides of a chassis are mounted withfixing members. Through the above arrangement, the fixing members on thechassis can be fit into the slot through the greater separation in orderto support the chassis.

However, such arrangement can only mount fixing members of a chassiswith a specific specification (such as 1U chassis). Chassis with otherspecifications (such as 2U chassis) cannot be supported by the rack dueto insufficient supporting capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly for a rack systemcapable of quickly mounting chassis with different specifications andfirmly supporting the chassis.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide railassembly for a rack system is configured to mount a chassis to a rack. Afixing member is arranged at one side of the chassis. The slide railassembly comprises a guide rail. The guide rail has a first railsection, a second rail section and a third rail section. Wherein, thefirst rail section is bent relative to the second rail section forsupporting a portion of the chassis. The third rail section is arrangedabove the second rail section. A path is defined between the second railsection and the third rail section for allowing the fixing member on thechassis to pass through. Wherein, when the chassis is mounted to theguide rail, the fixing member on the chassis passes through the path ofthe guide rail, and the fixing member on the chassis abuts against oneof the second rail section and the third rail section of the guide rail.

Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a supportingframe, wherein the guide rail is movably connected to the supportingframe.

Preferably, the guide rail has a bounded longitudinal hole, and isconnected to the supporting frame through a connecting member passingthrough the longitudinal hole, such that the guide rail is movablerelative to the supporting frame within a limited space.

Preferably, the fixing member on the chassis has a first fixing part anda second fixing part connected to the first fixing part. The firstfixing part is connected to the chassis. An outer diameter of the secondfixing part is greater than an outer diameter of the first fixing part.When the chassis is mounted to the guide rail, the fixing member on thechassis passes through the path of the guide rail, and the first fixingpart of the fixing member on the chassis abuts against one of an upperedge of the second rail section and a lower edge of the third railsection. One side of the second rail section and one side of the thirdrail section of the guide rail are configured to support another portionof the chassis.

Preferably, the second rail section of the guide rail is located at afront end of the guide rail. The guide rail further has a rear blockingpart located at a rear end of the guide rail.

Preferably, the third rail section of the guide rail is extended along alongitudinal direction of the first rail section of the guide rail andconnected to the rear blocking part.

According to another embodiment, a slide rail assembly for a rack systemis configured to mount a chassis to a rack. A fixing member is arrangedat one side of the chassis. The slide rail assembly comprises a guiderail. The guide rail has a first rail section, a second rail section anda third rail section. Wherein, the first rail section is bent relativeto the second rail section for supporting a portion of the chassis. Thethird rail section is arranged above the second rail section. Wherein,the fixing member on the chassis has a first fixing part and a secondfixing part connected to the first fixing part. The first fixing part isconnected to the chassis. An outer diameter of the second fixing part isgreater than an outer diameter of the first fixing part. When thechassis is mounted to the guide rail, the first fixing part of thefixing member on the chassis abuts against a lower edge of the thirdrail section of the guide rail, and one side of the second rail sectionand one side of the third rail section of the guide rail are configuredto support another portion of the chassis.

According to another embodiment, a slide rail assembly for a rack systemis configured to mount a chassis to a rack. A fixing member is arrangedat one side of the chassis. The slide rail assembly comprises a guiderail. The guide rail has a first rail section, a second rail section anda third rail section. Wherein, the first rail section is bent relativeto the second rail section for supporting a portion of the chassis. Thethird rail section is arranged above the second rail section. Wherein,the fixing member on the chassis has a first fixing part and a secondfixing part connected to the first fixing part. The first fixing part isconnected to the chassis. An outer diameter of the second fixing part isgreater than an outer diameter of the first fixing part. When thechassis is mounted to the guide rail, the first fixing part of thefixing member on the chassis abuts against an upper edge of the secondrail section of the guide rail, and one side of the second rail sectionand one side of the third rail section of the guide rail are configuredto support another portion of the chassis.

Preferably, the second rail section of the guide rail is located at afront end of the guide rail. The guide rail further has a rear blockingpart located at a rear end of the guide rail. The rear blocking part ofthe guide rail is extended with a rear supporting part. An upper edge ofthe rear supporting part is configured to abut against the fixing memberon the chassis.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rack system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a slide rail assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a front end of a guide rail of the sliderail assembly being configured to mount a first chassis according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the guide rail of the slide rail assemblybeing configured to mount the first chassis according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the guide rail of the slide rail assemblybeing configured to mount a second chassis according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an area B of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rack system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The rack system comprises a pair of slide railassemblies 10 configured to mount a chassis, such as a first chassis 12(ex. a 2u chassis), to a rack 14. Wherein, the rack 14 comprises a firstpost 16 a, a second post 16 b, a third post 16 c and a fourth post 16 d.One of the slide rail assemblies 10 is mounted to the first post 16 aand the second post 16 b of the rack 14. The other one of the slide railassemblies 10 is mounted to the third post 16 c and the fourth post 16 dof the rack 14. Two sides of the first chassis 12 are mounted on thepair of slide rail assemblies 10.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the slide rail assembly 10 comprises afirst bracket 18 and a second bracket 20 configured to be respectivelymounted to the first post 16 a and the second post 16 b of the rack 14.The slide rail assembly 10 further comprises a guide rail 22 and asupporting frame 23. Wherein, the guide rail 22 has a first rail section24, a second rail section 26 and a third rail section 28. In addition,each of two opposite sides of the first chassis 12 is arranged with atleast one fixing member. For example, a plurality of first fixingmembers 30 are arranged on the two opposite sides of the first chassis12.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail 22 further has a boundedlongitudinal hole 29, and a connecting member 31 is connected to thesupporting frame 23 through the longitudinal hole 29, such that theguide rail 22 is movable relative to the supporting frame 23 within alimited space.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the first rail section 24 of the guiderail 22 is configured to support a portion (such as a bottom part) ofthe first chassis 12. The third rail section 28 is arranged above thesecond rail section 26, and a path 32 is defined between the second railsection 26 and the third rail section 28 for allowing the first fixingmember 30 to pass through. Wherein, the first rail section 24 is bentrelative to the second rail section 26, for example, the first railsection 24 of the guide rail 22 is substantially perpendicularlyconnected to the second rail section 26 of the guide rail 22 forsupporting the portion of the first chassis 12.

In a preferred embodiment, the first fixing member 30 has a first fixingpart 38 and a second fixing part 40 connected to the first fixing part38. The first fixing part 38 is connected to the first chassis 12. Anouter diameter of the second fixing part 40 is greater than an outerdiameter of the first fixing part 38. When the first chassis 12 ismounted to the guide rail 22, the first rail section 24 of the guiderail 22 is configured to support the portion (the bottom part) of thefirst chassis 12, and the first fixing member 30 of the first chassis 12is configured to pass through the path 32 of the guide rail 22. Thefirst fixing part 38 of the first fixing member 30 is configured to abutagainst a lower edge of the third rail section 28 of the guide rail 22,and one side of the second rail section 26 and one side of the thirdrail section 28 of the guide rail 22 are configured to support anotherportion (such as a side wall) of the first chassis 12. Through the abovearrangement, the first chassis 12 can be quickly mounted, and the guiderail 22 of the slide rail assembly can firmly support the first chassis12.

In particular, a first height h1 is defined between the lower edge ofthe third rail section 28 of the guide rail 22 and the first railsection 24 of the guide rail 22. The first height h1 allows the firstfixing member 30 on the first chassis 12 to abut against the lower edgeof the third rail section 28 of the guide rail 22.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second rail section26 of the guide rail 22 is located at a front end of the guide rail 22.In addition, the guide rail 22 further has a rear blocking part 27located at a rear end of the guide rail 22.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first rail section 24of the guide rail 22 has a length L. The third rail section 28 of theguide rail 22 is extended along a longitudinal direction of the firstrail section 24 of the guide rail 22 and connected to the rear blockingpart 27.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when the slide rail assembly 10 isconfigured to mount a chassis with another specification, such as asecond chassis 42 (ex. an 1U chassis), the first rail section 24 of theguide rail 22 is configured to support a portion (such as a bottom part)of the second chassis 42. The second chassis 42 is arranged with atleast one fixing member, such as a second fixing member 43. An outlineof the second fixing member 43 is identical to an outline of the firstfixing member 30, and the second fixing member 43 is configured to passthrough the path 32 of the guide rail 22. The first fixing part 38 ofthe second fixing member 43 is configured to abut against an upper edgeof the second rail section 26 of the guide rail section, and one side ofthe second rail section 26 and one side of the third rail section 28 ofthe guide rail 22 are configured to support another portion (such as aside wall) of the second chassis 42. As such, the second chassis 42 canbe quickly mounted, and the guide rail 22 of the slide rail assembly canalso firmly support the second chassis 42.

In particular, a second height h2 is defined between the upper edge ofthe second rail section 26 of the guide rail 22 and the first railsection 24 of the guide rail 22, and the second height h2 is differentfrom the first height h1. The second height h2 allows the second fixingmember 43 of the second chassis 42 to abut against the upper edge of thesecond rail section 26 of the guide rail 22. Moreover, the rear blockingpart 27 of the guide rail 22 is extended with a rear supporting part 27a. An upper edge of the rear supporting part 27 a is configured to abutagainst the second fixing member 43 of the second chassis 42.

According to aforementioned embodiments, the present invention canquickly mount the chassis 12, 42 with different specifications (such as1U chassis and 2U chassis) and firmly support the chassis 12, 42 withthe different specifications.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slide rail assembly for a rack system mountinga chassis to a rack, the slide rail assembly comprising: a fixing memberarranged on one side of the chassis; a guide rail having a first railsection, a second rail section and a third rail section, wherein thefirst rail section is bent relative to the second rail section forsupporting a portion of the chassis, the third rail section is arrangedabove the second rail section, a path is defined between the second railsection and the third rail section for allowing the fixing member on thechassis to pass through; and a supporting frame, wherein the guide railis movably connected to the supporting frame; wherein when the chassisis mounted to the guide rail, the fixing member on the chassis passesthrough the path of the guide rail, and the fixing member on the chassisabuts against one of the second rail section and the third rail sectionof the guide rail; wherein the guide rail has a bounded longitudinalhole, and is connected to the supporting frame through a connectingmember passing through the longitudinal hole, such that the guide railis movable relative to the supporting frame within a limited space. 2.The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixing member on thechassis has a first fixing part and a second fixing part connected tothe first fixing part, the first fixing part is connected to thechassis, an outer diameter of the second fixing part is greater than anouter diameter of the first fixing part; wherein when the chassis ismounted to the guide rail, the fixing member on the chassis passesthrough the path of the guide rail, and the first fixing part of thefixing member on the chassis abuts against one of an upper edge of thesecond rail section and a lower edge of the third rail section, one sideof the second rail section and one side of the third rail section of theguide rail are configured to support another portion of the chassis. 3.The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the second rail section ofthe guide rail is located at a front end of the guide rail, the guiderail further has a rear blocking part located at a rear end of the guiderail.
 4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the third railsection of the guide rail is extended along a longitudinal direction ofthe first rail section of the guide rail and connected to the rearblocking part.
 5. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the rearblocking part of the guide rail is extended with a rear supporting part,an upper edge of the rear supporting part is configured to abut againstthe fixing member on the chassis.
 6. A slide rail assembly for a racksystem mounting a chassis to a rack, the slide rail assembly comprising:a fixing member arranged on one side of the chassis; and a guide railhaving a first rail section, a second rail section and a third railsection, wherein the first rail section is bent relative to the secondrail section for supporting a portion of the chassis, the third railsection is arranged above the second rail section, a path is definedbetween the second rail section and the third rail section for allowingthe fixing member on the chassis to pass through; wherein the fixingmember on the chassis has a first fixing part and a second fixing partconnected to the first fixing part, the first fixing part is connectedto the chassis, an outer diameter of the second fixing part is greaterthan an outer diameter of the first fixing part, wherein when thechassis is mounted to the guide rail, the first fixing part of thefixing member on the chassis abuts against a lower edge of the thirdrail section of the guide rail, and one side of the second rail sectionand one side of the third rail section of the guide rail are configuredto support another portion of the chassis; wherein the second railsection of the guide rail is located at a front end of the guide rail,the guide rail further has a rear blocking part located at a rear end ofthe guide rail, the third rail section of the guide rail is extendedalong a longitudinal direction of the first rail section of the guiderail and connected to the rear blocking part.
 7. A slide rail assemblyfor a rack system mounting a chassis to a rack, the slide rail assemblycomprising: a fixing member arranged on one side of the chassis; and aguide rail having a first rail section, a second rail section and athird rail section, wherein the first rail section is bent relative tothe second rail section for supporting a portion of the chassis, thethird rail section is arranged above the second rail section; whereinthe fixing member on the chassis has a first fixing part and a secondfixing part connected to the first fixing part, the first fixing part isconnected to the chassis, an outer diameter of the second fixing part isgreater than an outer diameter of the first fixing part, wherein whenthe chassis is mounted to the guide rail, the first fixing part of thefixing member on the chassis abuts against an upper edge of the secondrail section of the guide rail, and one side of the second rail sectionand one side of the third rail section of the guide rail are configuredto support another portion of the chassis; wherein the second railsection of the guide rail is located at a front end of the guide rail,the guide rail further has a rear blocking part located at a rear end ofthe guide rail, the rear blocking part of the guide rail is extendedwith a rear supporting part, an upper edge of the rear supporting partis configured to abut against the fixing member on the chassis.
 8. Aslide rail assembly for a rack system mounting a chassis to a rack, theslide rail assembly comprising: a fixing member arranged on one side ofthe chassis; and a guide rail having a first rail section, a second railsection and a third rail section, wherein the first rail section is bentrelative to the second rail section for supporting a portion of thechassis, the third rail section is arranged above the second railsection, a path is defined between the second rail section and the thirdrail section for allowing the fixing member on the chassis to passthrough; wherein when the chassis is mounted to the guide rail, thefixing member on the chassis passes through the path of the guide rail,and the fixing member on the chassis abuts against one of the secondrail section and the third rail section of the guide rail; wherein thesecond rail section of the guide rail is located at a front end of theguide rail, the guide rail further has a rear blocking part located at arear end of the guide rail; wherein the third rail section of the guiderail is extended along a longitudinal direction of the first railsection of the guide rail and connected to the rear blocking part. 9.The slide rail assembly of claim 8, further comprising a supportingframe, wherein the guide rail is movably connected to the supportingframe.
 10. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the fixing memberon the chassis has a first fixing part and a second fixing partconnected to the first fixing part, the first fixing part is connectedto the chassis, an outer diameter of the second fixing part is greaterthan an outer diameter of the first fixing part; wherein when thechassis is mounted to the guide rail, the fixing member on the chassispasses through the path of the guide rail, and the first fixing part ofthe fixing member on the chassis abuts against one of an upper edge ofthe second rail section and a lower edge of the third rail section, oneside of the second rail section and one side of the third rail sectionof the guide rail are configured to support another portion of thechassis.
 11. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the rearblocking part of the guide rail is extended with a rear supporting part,an upper edge of the rear supporting part is configured to abut againstthe fixing member on the chassis.
 12. A slide rail assembly for a racksystem mounting a chassis to a rack, the slide rail assembly comprising:a fixing member being arranged on one side of the chassis; and a guiderail having a first rail section, a second rail section and a third railsection, wherein the first rail section is bent relative to the secondrail section for supporting a portion of the chassis, the third railsection is arranged above the second rail section, a path is definedbetween the second rail section and the third rail section for allowingthe fixing member on the chassis to pass through; wherein when thechassis is mounted to the guide rail, the fixing member on the chassispasses through the path of the guide rail, and the fixing member on thechassis abuts against one of the second rail section and the third railsection of the guide rail; wherein the second rail section of the guiderail is located at a front end of the guide rail, the guide rail furtherhas a rear blocking part located at a rear end of the guide rail;wherein the rear blocking part of the guide rail is extended with a rearsupporting part, an upper edge of the rear supporting part is configuredto abut against the fixing member on the chassis.
 13. The slide railassembly of claim 12, further comprising a supporting frame, wherein theguide rail is movably connected to the supporting frame.
 14. The sliderail assembly of claim 12, wherein the fixing member on the chassis hasa first fixing part and a second fixing part connected to the firstfixing part, the first fixing part is connected to the chassis, an outerdiameter of the second fixing part is greater than an outer diameter ofthe first fixing part; wherein when the chassis is mounted to the guiderail, the fixing member on the chassis passes through the path of theguide rail, and the first fixing part of the fixing member on thechassis abuts against one of an upper edge of the second rail sectionand a lower edge of the third rail section, one side of the second railsection and one side of the third rail section of the guide rail areconfigured to support another portion of the chassis.